GateHouse News Service New England Budget  Sept. 28, 2007

Here are the top New England regional stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at gatehousenewsservice.com.

cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com

Here are the top New England regional stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at gatehousenewsservice.com. Please submit stories below no later than 6 p.m. local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly. Questions?

Contact: Chris Biondi, (508) 626-4343, cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com

Note:

Check out this Q&A with Beacon editor Robert Burgess at ghnewsroom.com.
Here’s a recent one, too, with Needham Times reporter Steven Ryan.
And Norwich Bulletin assistant city editor Marilyn Comrie.
Plus, don’t miss this video tour of the Cambridge Chronicle and Somerville Journal.

News

FOR MONDAY PUBLICATION: STATELINE/MASSACTION PACKAGE – The debate over casinos will dominate Beacon Hill this fall and well into the spring, like no other issue since the bitter fight over gay marriage in recent years. And the rest of Gov. Deval Patrick's ambitious agenda and sweet campaign promises may get squeezed out in the process.
Patriot Ledger, Benner, 6 p.m., with logo
WITH: MASSACTION – A look at the week ahead.
MetroWest Daily News, Parietti, with logo

MIRACLE RECOVERY - 2-year-old Bridgewater boy who stopped breathing after being submerged in a pool for five minutes, then saved by neighbor and town rescue workers, is now off the ventilator and expected home in a couple days.
The Enterprise, 8 inches, 6 p.m.

MORE LEAD PAINT - Yet another bunch of Chinese-made toys is being recalled due to lead paint. Talking to medical experts, how dangerous is lead paint on toys? And what do parents (who may well have played with plenty of toys with lead paint growing up) think - is this overblown or a big deal?
Patriot Ledger, Lambert, 15 inches, 6 p.m.

BIG DIG CONTRACTORS INDICTED - A Marshfield father and son have been indicted on charges they defrauded the state of more than $250,000 as contractors working on the Big Dig project.
Marshfield Mariner, Koch, 9 inches, on wire now

Business

NEW UMASS COURSE AIMED AT WOULD-BE INVENTORS - If you think you could be the next Bette Nesmith Graham (Liquid Paper, 1956), Randice-Lisa Altschul (disposable cell phone, 1999)or even Percy Spencer (microwave oven, 1946), UMass Dartmouth has the class for you.
Herald News, Welker, 15 inches, on wire now

SOMERVILLE FIRM INVENTS A NEW MARGARITA MAKER FOR JIMMY BUFFET FANS - Searchin' for your lost shaker of salt? Altitude in Somerville can help. The firm just designed a new Frozen Concoction Maker for the Jimmy-Buffet-centered Margaritaville company.
Somerville Journal, 8 inches, on wire now
With photo

CHANGES AT UNO CHICAGO GRILL - During the past two years, Uno Chicago Grill achieved an improbable goal: Expanding its menu to include more nonpizza items and boosting overall sales without slicing into the popularity of its signature deep-dish pies.
Patriot Ledger, Adams, 15 inches, 6 p.m.
With photos to come

UNION FILES TO REPRESENT FOXWOODS DEALERS - The UAW at Foxwoods formally asked the National Labor Relations Board on Friday to represent a group of dealers from Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Norwich Bulletin, Jacobson, 8 inches, on wire now
Wth photo

Opinions

EDITORIAL: A TRUE BLOW AGAINST TERRORISM - While killing as many infidels as they can, the ultimate goal of a terrorist is to put fear into the hearts and minds of their intended victims and force the targeted populace to change their way of life.
Patriot Ledger, on wire now

FOR SUNDAY: EDITORIAL: FRAUD AND THE BIG DIG - The resident discount program, which deeply discounts tunnel tolls for residents of certain Boston neighborhoods, was dubious to begin with and is without justification now that the Big Dig is complete. A new Mass. Pike audit found it's also wracked with fraud.
MetroWest Daily News, 6 p.m.

EDITORIAL: SHUNNING THE ADL - As we have learned from history, education, not isolation, is the way to combat ignorance, and Scituate and other towns looking to shun the ADL because of their stance on the Armenian genocide would be better served by using their status as a certified No Place for Hate community to effectuate change with their anti-bigotry partner.
Patriot Ledger, 15 inches, 6 p.m.

CONNIE FRANCIS TO APPEAR IN BOSTON - Francis, 68, exploded on the music scene at age 19 with her first hit - “Who’s Sorry Now,” then went on to become the most popular songstress of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. She was the Mariah Carey of her day.
Patriot Ledger, Barbuto, 18 inches, on wire now
With photos

PETER CHIANCA: SETZER’S IN A CLASSICAL BY HIMSELF - I admit my curiosity was piqued when I heard that the Brian Setzer Orchestra would be releasing an album made up entirely of big-band swing versions of famous classical compositions. CNC, on wire now With photos